These incredible cinnamon sugar cookies are topped with a decadent, creamy cinnamon frosting. They are made with staple ingredients and are surprisingly quick and easy to make.
This cinnamon sugar cookie recipe is a blend of a classic snickerdoodle and iced buttercream sugar cookie that you’ll make time and time again.
I know I should save the best for last, but it’s all relative because who can choose between five new fall and winter infused recipes!
Whenever I do any fall baking, I send cookies to friends, family and neighbors to see which new cookies make the cut. Everyone had a differing opinion this year, but these cinnamon sugar cookies are my personal favorite.
If you love cinnamon everything as much as we do, don’t skip my Snickerdoodle Recipe Without Cream of Tartar – so good! I’ve got a classic Soft Snickerdoodle, too.
These cinnamon sugar cookies are the best of both worlds. All the fragrant, spicy goodness of a soft snickerdoodle, combined with the sweet and sugary sugar cookies with buttercream icing we all love!
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
As much as I love a beautiful cutout sugar cookie, sometimes you just want a soft, fluffy one that doesn’t take quite as much effort. Luckily, these are still so beautiful and the taste is out of this world!
Why You’ll Love It
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Butter – I tend to have salted butter on hand, so that’s what I use here. Traditionally unsalted butter is best for baking, but we like a little salt with our sweet for balance. Learn how to soften butter quickly.
- Vegetable Oil – You can also use a canola oil or another neutral high heat oil.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure is preferable over imitation. Learn how to make your own homemade vanilla extract here!
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this is a super fine sugar that is always used for frosting, and also can be added to cookie dough for a soft, sweet effect.
- Eggs – Size large.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is required for this recipe.
- Salt – To balance out all that sweet!
- Cream of Tartar – For the traditionally tart addition that gives these cinnamon sugar cookies the taste of a snickerdoodle!
- Baking Soda – An imperative addition to many cookie recipes, baking soda is a leavening agent that allows the cookies to rise.
Variations
- For another twist, you can ice them with Cinnamon Roll Icing!
- Sprinkle with an added dusting of homemade cinnamon sugar just before baking.
How to Make these Cookies in Four Easy Steps
It takes less than 20 minutes to make these delicious treats! For the full printable recipe, head straight to the card at the bottom of this post.
- Make Dough as directed.
- Refrigerate dough while you’re preheating oven.
- Roll /scoop dough into large balls and drop on cookie sheet. Bake.
- Allow to cool. Ice with cinnamon frosting.
Tips
- Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least an hour before baking.
- Use parchment or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Don’t overbake cookies. Watch bake time closely to keep cookies soft. 7-8 minutes is just perfect. Any longer and they may become hard and dry.
- The cookies are ready when firm to the touch and slightly brown around the edges.
- Let the cookies fully cool before icing them.
- This recipe can make a lot of cookies, depending on how big you make them! Great for gifting or exchanging with friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can substitute with margarine or shortening, but the results won’t be quite the same.
Not exactly! Snickerdoodles often feature cream of tartar, which is a slightly bitter, tart addition that is quite distinctive. Sugar cookies are traditionally frosted, too, which adds a separate layer that defines the difference between these two sweet types of cookies.
Dietary Considerations
- Nut Free
- Vegetarian
How to Store
- Room Temperature – You can store these cookies on your counter for up to three days in an airtight container. Good luck getting them to last that long!
- Refrigerator – Once these cookies have been cooled and iced, they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for about 3-4 days.
- Freezer – Un-iced cookies can also be frozen on a baking sheet and then placed in zip lock bags and they will be good for a month or two. Bake a couple of batches, freeze half and enjoy later in the season!
More Cinnamon Inspiration
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cream of tarter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk to combine butter, oil, vanilla extract, sugar, powdered sugar and cinnamon until smooth.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 cup white granulated sugar, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Blend in eggs until just incorporated.2 large eggs
- Fold in flour, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda until just incorporated.4½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cream of tarter, 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Cover dough and refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°F
- Roll or scoop dough into large balls and drop on cookie sheet allowing room to spread. Bake 8-10 minutes watching carefully as to not over bake. Cookies are done when firm to the touch and slightly golden around the edges.Allow to cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Optional
- Ice with Cinnamon Frosting.
Julie’s Tips
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
I’m literally drooling! I can’t pass up a good Sugar Cookie recipe — can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks!
Cookie week? I’m gonna need more than a week! These look delicious!
You can enjoy these recipes all fall, we just squeezed them into a week…you know, so we can squeeze into yoga pants!
Great. Now you have me craving some cinnamon sugar cookies! 🙂 Such a great recipe!
These are amazing! The frosting on these is everything! So good!
I LOVE me a frosted cookie!! These look and sound SO crazy delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
xo Michael